COVER STORY
T
IGER Woods’ return at the Hero
World Challenge in December
generated unparalleled levels of
interest in a limited field, unofficial
PGA Tour event.
The worldwide response in the lead up to the
event prompting many to comment that Tiger
at 42 still moves the needle. The television
viewership and reaction, after a performance
Woods admitted left even him “excited”,
confirmed that in fact when it comes to modern
golf Tiger Woods is the needle.
Despite a 10-month break from the game,
Woods looked as close to his powerful best
as he has in recent years, confirming reports
that had emerged from his practice rounds at
home with the likes of Justin Thomas and
Rickie Fowler.
“I started playing practice rounds with Rickie,
that was fun to be able to go out there and say
I can keep up with him, even sneak a few by
him,” Woods said.
Woods will make his first start of 2018 this
week at the Farmers Insurance Open held at
San Diego’s Torrey Pines. The seaside location
a venue the 14-time major champion has often
dominated and was last seen at competitively
in America before undergoing spinal fusion
surgery in April 2017.
Perched on bluffs above the Californian
coastline the North and South courses at Torrey
have seen some of Woods’ greatest career
triumphs and most noticeably his one-legged
2008 US Open victory on the South over Rocco
Mediate.
In addition to his most recent major title, the
layouts were also the site of Woods’ win in the
Junior World Championship as a teenager and a
record seven Farmers Insurance Open victories.
One of the many records Tiger possesses that
are chief among the cause of excitement about
his latest return.
While others like Thomas, Fowler, Jordan
Spieth and Rory McIlroy have entertained,
impressed and engaged fans in Tiger’s absence
and even in the case of Dustin Johnson and
Spieth experienced periods of outstanding
play, none have come close to generating the
excitement of Woods or the dominance he
exhibited during the ‘Tiger era’.
One doesn’t have to look any further than
Johnson’s 2018 opening win at the Sentry
Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, which ►
I STARTED PLAYING PRACTICE ROUNDS WITH
RICKIE, THAT WAS FUN TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT
THERE AND SAY I CAN KEEP UP WITH HIM, EVEN
SNEAK A FEW BY HIM.